Philadelphia Criminal Justice Updates
HOSPITAL CEO PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD WHILE FINANCIAL OFFICER AT PRIOR JOB
Its amazing the creativity and gall of people in control of the bank accounts and bill paying mechanism at corporations. “Prosecutors say Mr. MacGregor defrauded his former employer, which is identified in the documents as a company that “provided medical laboratory directorship and pathology services to hospitals and clinics and operated an independent lab.” He…
Read MoreDOJ charges Walgreens Boots Alliance with unlawful dispensation of millions of prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act — Corresponding Responsibility Violations
Walgreens Boots Alliance and its subsidiaries alleging unlawful dispensation of millions of prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
Read MorePhysician Fraud and Kick backs
“A New York doctor was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury for causing the submission of over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces.” Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for Medicare beneficiaries who attended COVID-19 testing events at assisted living facilities, adult day care…
Read MoreDUI ARD, Prior Offense, Sentencing Enhancement, Repeat Offender
Recidivist sentencing enhancement statutes continue to be declared unconstitutional based upon relatively recent US Supreme Court cases. In 2000 the U.S. Supreme Court decided State v. Apprendi. There the Court states a criminal sentence must be based upon facts the fact finder (judge or jury) found beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed. Apprendi…
Read MoreExtended Pa Court Closures
PA Supreme Court Extends Judicial Emergency – All Courts Closed to Public Through April 30 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed that the general, statewide judicial emergency declared in March is extended through April 30, 2020, and all Pennsylvania courts shall remain generally closed to the public, subject to the exceptions set forth in the…
Read MorePennsylvania Suspends Certain Licensure Requirements for State Board of Psychology, and State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Professional Counselors
March 22, 2020 Pennsylvania Suspends Certain Licensure Requirements for State Board of Psychology, and State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Professional Counselors In order to increase the number of health-care practitioners available to respond to the COVID- 19 emergency, Governor Wolf has granted the Department of State’s request to suspend some…
Read MorePennsylvania’s New Opioid Treatment Agreement Law
On Nov. 27, 2019 Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf sign into law Act 112 of 2019. This is Pennsylvania’s Opioid Treatment Agreement Law. It took immediate effect. The law requires prescribers to enter into an opioid patient treatment agreement before issuing the first prescription in a single course of treatment for chronic pain using any opioid-containing…
Read MorePennsylvania Licensed Attorney Discipline in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
My licensure defense practice includes representing attorneys facing disciplinary process in Pennsylvania. Attorneys licensed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – whether practicing in Pennsylvania or not – are subject to discipline the same as other Pennsylvania licensees. Criminal conduct and egregious unethical conduct expose attorneys to prosecution for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. Attorney…
Read MoreDrug Possession, Disorderly Conduct, Crimes of Moral Turpitude… Commonwealth Court Speaks Up
Today the Commonwealth Court issues another remarkable decision involving a Pennsylvania medical professional. Dunagan v. BPOA, 2019 WL 155879, is the third case in a row in which a Commonwealth Court panel has found a Pennsylvania medical related board engaged in an erroneous interpretation of the law and abuses its discretion. In 2015, Dunagan…
Read MoreProfessional License Defense — Counsel and the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence
On February 28, 2019 Commonwealth Court issued a decision reversing a Pennsylvania Medical Board order reprimanding a physician. The order reprimanding the physician stems from a medical malpractice case. The patient died and the Medical Board accused the physician of practicing below the standard of care. The physician objected to the public reprimand placed on…
Read More